When it comes to politics, Grand Rapids ranks 19th. That stat appears in Men's Health's October issue. To identify America's Most Political Cities, the magazine calculated the percentage of citizens registered to vote, and the number who participated in the most recent senatorial and gubernatorial elections, the 2004 presidential election and the 2008 primaries. They also studied campaign spending in each city since 2006 and the amount contributed by locals to the 2008 presidential race. The magazine did not track participation by party. If cash is an indicator, our area remains solidly GOP. John McCain collected $315,518 from GR-area ZIP codes so far, although Barack Obama has collected $192,621.

STUMPING ON THE INTERNETKent County judge campaigns go high-tech

Who says judicial elections are stuffy and old fashioned? In the race for the Kent County Circuit Court judge, challenger James Koetje and incumbent Judge Christopher Yates are making use of the latest Internet tools to promote their candidacies. Yates has set up a campaign page on Facebook where voters can find out about the judges tastes in music -- he's a fan of The Police, REM and Tori Amos -- his favorite TV shows (including "The Colbert Report"), and about his background and family. Koetje went with a YouTube ad, which shows the Grandville attorney in his office reading and dialing the phone. The ad talks about being a life-long Kent County resident and shows his family photos on his desk. The ad also reminds viewers that Yates was appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who is then covered with a blood-red logo across her face that reads "liberal."

DODGING CONSTRUCTIONDestination: Fundraiser

Though road construction had folks exploring alternative routes and "wishing they were Magellan," Peter Secchia says the state's chief justice raised some cash and enjoyed a nice evening on Reeds Lake last week. Secchia hosted the event for Cliff Taylor and said 80 to 90 people attended, including former Gov. John Engler and his wife, Michelle, as co-hosts. Secchia said many others mailed incontributions. He declined to estimate the take but, prior to the event, Taylor's $1.5 million raised was already a state Supreme Court candidate record. The Democrats' nominee, Wayne County Circuit Judge Diane Hathaway, actually edged Taylor very slightly in a poll conductedthis month by Lansing-based Marketing Resource Group.

SPELL HIS NAME RIGHTGOP incumbent Fritz Wahlfield says, 'Write me in'

No doubt voters will have a lot to think about on Election Day. Still, Republican Fritz Wahlfield is hoping they'll take the time to write in his name on the ballot. A fixture on the Kent County Commission for 34 years, Wahlfield lost the Republican primary in the board's 2nd District to farmland preservation advocate Thomas Antor. Antor received 1,425 votes to Wahlfield's 1,236. Wahlfield blames low turnout in Alpine Township, where he lives. Turnout "is going to be five, six times more in (November). It's a new day," Wahlfield said.